Lubricating means



May 9, 1939. J. L. CREVELING LUBRICATING MEANS Original Filed July 17, 1933 zazg'f Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 17, 1933, Serial No. 680,892 Renewed March 21, 1938 12 Claims.

My invention pertains to that class of lubrieating means employed for forcing lubricant through fittings, known as nipples, into bearings or other devices connected with the nipples by suitable ducts.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved type of handoperated device comprehending a can or cartridge which may be readily separated from the other parts and discarded, when its contents have been used, and replaced by a similar cartridge containing a new' supply of lubricant.

Another object is to provide novel parts cooperating with said cartridge to form an improved ty c of hand-operated lubricating device, of the kind now known as a grease gun of the push type, which shall possess advantages over the grease guns now in use.

Another object is to provide such a gun with an improved type of contacting device or nozzle whereby a lubricant-tight seal is made with the nipples to be serviced.

Other objects will be plain rorn the following specification and drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. I is a section of one type cf gun employing one form of my invention.

Figs. II, III and IV are fragmentary sections and partial elevations indicating modifications which may be made in the structures indicated in Fig. I.

Fig. V is a section of a different style of gun than that of Fig. I which also comprehends my invention.

Fig. VI is an elevation and partial section of gun parts similar to those shown in Fig. V but in a modified form.

Fig. VII is a section of a type of nozzle novv in use which may be used in connection With any of the guns here shown under proper conditions.

Fig. VIII is an elevation of a piece of tubing partly formed into an improved type of nozzle included in my present invention.

Fig. IX is an end elevation of the partially formed nozzle of Fig. VIII, as viewed from the left.

Fig. X is` an end elevation and partial section showing the tube of Fig. VIII, after the same has been formed into a nozzle included in my invention; the tube being viewed from the left and the section being taken on the vertical broken line of Fig. VIII.

Fig. XI is an end elevation of the nozzle of Fig.

X. s 55 Fig. XII is a Side elevation of part oi a ball type nipple and an end elevation of my improved nozzle applied thereto.

Fig. XIII is a longitudinal section of part of my improved nozzle.

Fig. XIV is an elevation of part of a ball type nipple and a longitudinal section of part of my improved nozzle applied thereto.

Fig. XV is a section of a modified form of nozzle included in my invention, showing the same in operative contact with a ball nipple (in dotted lines),the axes of the nipple and nozzle being parallel.

Fig. XVI is a side elevation of the nipple of Fig. XV, as` viewed from the right.

Fig. XVII is a bottom plan of the nipple of Fig. XV.

Fig. XVIII is a section similar to Fig. XV but showing the nozzle at an angle of 90 degrees With respect to the axis of the nipple.

Fig. XIX is a vieW of the nozzle of Fig. XVIII as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. XX is a section of a modification of my improved nozzle.

Fig. XXI is a View of the nozzle of Fig. XX, as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. XXII is a side elevation of a portion of a nozzle included in my invention which comprehends a resilient gasket.

Fig. XXIII is a section of the nozzle of Fig. XXII.

Fig. XXIV is a view of the nozzle of Fig. XXII, as seen in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. XXV is a section of a portion of the cartridge of Fig. V, showing hoW the same may be sealed.

Fig. XXVI is a side elevation of a nipple having a cylindrical head, which may be used in connection With my present invention.

Fig. XXVII is a front elevation of the nipple of Fig. XXVI.

Fig. XXVIII is a section of one form of nipple of the type shown in Figs. XXVI and XXVII, illustrating the head as rotatable about the axis of the nipple.

In the drawing, referring to Fig. I, I indicates a tube having the bore 2 and provided with an enlarged conical portion 3, close to which are drilled several inlet ports 4. One end of bore 2 is closed as by the plug 6, While the other end portion is provided with a sliding plunger 'l having the bore 8. The plunger is normally held in the position indicated by the compression spring 9 and is partly closed at one end by the bushing l0 having the port ll and Aserving as a seat for the ball I2, normally urged against its seat by spring i3 to form a check Valve. The plunger is held in the bore 2 and kept from revolving therein by means oi' the slot or key-way i4 engaging the screw |5. I6 is the cylindrical side wall of a can or cartridge forming a reservoir 5 and having an end closure provided with a central, depressed, conical portion i8 which, until the cartridge is placed in use, is normally closed by the disc I9 which is preferably scored or weakened at its junction with the bottom of the depressed portion I8. The opposite end of the cartridge is provided with a closure 253 having a circular ridge pressed therein, as shown at 2|, and a vent 22 normally closed by the tear strip 23 until placed in use. The cartridge is provided with a slidable follower 24, normally resting upon the ridge 2|, until some of the lubricant has been used from the chamber 5, and provided with a central aperture adapted to slidably engage the tube The left-hand end of the plunger 'i is out at an angle and may be provided with a now well-known type of pocket 25, adapted to communicate with the axial duct (shown in dotted lines) of the ball head 26 of a now wellknown form of nipple, assumed to be operatively connected with a part to be lubricated. The arrangement o this portion of the gun will hereinafter be more fully explained with respect to an improvement forming a part of my present invention.

In Fig. II, the tube l is shown as having a threaded portion 34 carrying a flange or spider 35 having lugs 36 with inclined inner surfaces adapted to engage a plurality of bosses 3' pressed outwardly in the cover l'i so as to form a now well-known type of bayonet lock for holding the cartridge in place with respect to the tube In Fig. III, the right-hand end of the cartridge is shown as provided with a metal disc 38 resting against the end of side wall i6 and centrally perforated to form a conical opening surrounded by a collar 39, adapted to engage the screw threads 4| upon the tube I. The disc 38 is held in place by the end closure 48, as shown, while 4|) is preferably of spherical shape to form an end thrustmember, comfortable to the hand of a user. 43 is an annular ring or flange of sheet metal providing a base member upon which the cartridge may stand in a vertical position until applied to a gun for use, and is attached to the closure 45 as by means of a spot weld or lump of solder, as indicated at 44, so as to normally close the vent 42, which will be automatically opened when the ring 43 is torn away.

In Fig. IV, the end closure 45 is shown as provided with a circular, depressed, portion 45 for engaging the end of tube to hold the same in position, as in Fig. I; while a vent 47 is formed in the bottom of said depression and normally closed by a ring 43 and a spot weld or solder, so that when the ring is torn loose the vent will be opened.

In Fig. V, one end of the cartridge is shown as provided with a closiue i9 having a screw-threaded neck 56 which may be closed by means of a disc 85, as shown in Fig. XXV, until the cartridge is placed in use. The other end of the cartridge is provided with a closure 5|, permanently sealing this end of the cartridge which contains a follower 52 having a central opening surrounded by the collar 53, adapted to form a sliding contact with tube 55; while the right-hand end of collar 53 is slotted to form air-passages or vents 54 between the collar and the end closure.

The tube 55 has a bore 56 which is contracted as at 51 to form a close, sliding, t upon the tubular plunger 58 having bore- 59 and an expanded end 60 of substantially the same diameter as the bore 56. 6| is a plug, preferably of metal, closing the bore 56, save for the passage 65 registering with the port 86 in the screw-threaded stopper 64, iixed upon the tube 55. Plug 6| carries a plunger 62, adapted to enter the bore 59, with a lubricant tight sliding fit, when plunger 58 is pressed rearwardly against the elort of spring G3. 66 is a lubricant passage connecting the reservoir 5 with the bore of tube 55, on the left side of the plug 6|. 6T is a nozzle which is shown as united with the tube 58, as by means of a screw-threaded bushing or nipple 68 having a i duct 69 against which the ball 70 is urged by spring 'Il to form a check-valve. The nozzle 6'! is shown with a pocket 3| operatively engaging the ball head 26 of the nipple, indicated as connected with a part to be lubricated.

In Fig. VI, the nozzle 6I and tube 53 may be the same as in Fig. V, and the tube 'i2 may be the same as that part of the tube 55 of Fig. V as appears at the left of the stopper 64 in said Fig. V, and may contain the same elements.

In Fig. VI, however, the short tube I2 is carried upon a stopper 13, tapped to t a tube ifi oi much smaller diameter, and, therefore, less displacement, than the tube 55 of Fig. V. The tube i4 performs the same office as the right-hand portion of tube 55 of Fig. V, and, of course, requires a smaller opening in follower 52, as shown, than in the prior figure. The port 'i6 (or a plurality of such ports) extends from the right-hand face of stopper T3 to the interior of tube "52; while the bore of tube I4 is connected With the atmosphere by port I5 in the stopper 13.

While the discharge end of the guns of Figs. I to VI, incl., may all be provided with nipple servicing outlets of the usual type, as shown in Fig. VII, said figure is here included primarily for the purpose of illustrating the improvement in this' type of device forming a part of my present invention.

With a nipple engaging outlet of any kind, it is, of course, very desirable to be able to service the nipple from every possible angle of approach. Prior to my present invention, this has been accomplished by making the nipple with a ballshaped head and placing the gun outlet at an angle in the neighborhood of 45 degrees (or 135 degrees) with respect to the axis of the gun (35 degrees to 135 degrees, perhaps, being the angle most often selected for guns of the contact and push types), and forming in the angular face portion a pocket 25, as shown in Fig. VII. Here, the pocket is shown in section, while a ball is indicated in dotted lines at 26 as engaged thereby. Such pockets, when viewed in the direction of the arrow, are circular so as to form an unbroken contact with a sphere from any angle, and at the line of original contact are usually lapped to form a narrow zone contact, as indicated at 21 in Fig. VII. In order to cover the usual axial ports of such nipples throughout relative axial displacements including substantially degrees, as illustrated in Figs. I and V, it is necessary to make the diameter of the co-ntact portion of the usual pockets nearly as great as the diameter of the balls to be engaged, as shown in Fig. VII. Therefore, the reaction of uid pressure tending to break the seal between the ball and the seat is against an area as great as that of a section of the ball taken near a diameter. Several advantages accompanying the reduction of this area are accomplished by my present invention` which may be readily comprehended by assuming a contact seal to be formed in the following manner, which is given by way of example.

I first take a tube 28, having a bore 8 as shown in Fig. VIII, and bevel the end as shown at 29, and then mill a transverse groove 30 of substantially the same radius as the ball 26 to be engaged, as shown in Fig. VIII. When this is done, if the end of the tube be viewed from the left, it will appear as indicated in Fig. IX. I then cut a channel in the bottom of the groove 3B, as indicated at 3| in Fig. X, wherein the portion of the tube to the left of the broken line in Fig. VIII has been removed to show the shape of the channel. Where the edges of this channel contact, or nearly contact, with the ball, I lap a ball, of the same diameter as that of the nipples to be used, until a seat 32 is produced having a contact seal with the ball. Then, an end view of the tube (with the part of 29 which was removed as in Fig. X replaced) will appear as shown in Fig. XI; and when this is placed upon a ball tting it will appear as in Fig. XII. The length of the channel 3l and the contacting seat 32 are shown in the longitudinal section, Fig. )UIL while a nipple is indicated as in operative contact with the seat (of the part included in the said section) in Fig. XIV.

Upon examination of Fig. XII, it will be noted that, with the metal to metal contacts as thus far considered, a considerable part of the metal at the contact end of tube 28 may be cut away in either side of the seat 32 without detriment. In the structure shown in Fig. XV, this is assumed to have been done, though it makes no change in a longitudinal section of the tube, which is here shown applied to the ball-nipple 26 with their axes in line. However, this structure, as viewed from the right, will appear as in Fig. XVI, which plainly shows the seat only remaining as the contacting end; while a bottom plan, as shown in Fig. XVII, also brings out this feature.

Fig. XVIII shows how the bore 8 maintains its sealed connection with the duct in the nipple, even though the axis of the tube 11 be swung through 90 degrees in a vertical plane with respect to the axis of the nipple; while, of course, the tube 'H may be swung through a complete revolution in a horizontal plane without disturbing this relation.

The form of the contacting seat 18 is well brought out in Fig. XIX, which shows the contact end and pocket of Fig. XVIII as viewed in the direction of the arrow.

While in most of the figures I have shown the contact face of the discharge tube as inclined to the axis at an angle in the vicinity of 45 degrees, as this makes for universal application or the gun to nipples having ball type heads, this can really be accomplished with closer approach to an end in a plane normal to the axis of the tube; and, under some circumstances, it may even be preferable to use such an end in a normal plane, and this is shown in Fig. XX; while Fig. XXI shows the appearance of this structure when viewed in the direction of the arrow.

It will, of course, be plain that the nearer the angularity of the face and longitudinal axis of the tube approach that of Fig. XX, the less will be the pressure required in a direction along the axis of the tube, to insure a sealing contact, which in all cases including my invention will be a contact presenting less area to reaction than the usual structures shown in Fig. VII.

A feature of particular merit in this type of small area contact throughout a wide angle is that it permits of the use of a renewable gasket or soft seat, the use of which is precluded by the wedging action of the spherical head against a soft or resilient member, if employed with a circular opening therein having a diameter almost as great as the ball, as wide angular range of operation requires.

One type of such soft seated discharge tube is shown in elevation in Fig. XXII, where the end portion of the tube is indicated at 80 as having a circular groove 8l, which is recessed as indicated in dotted lines at 82, to receive a more or less yielding or resilient gasket 83, which may be of leather, iibre, composition or other suitable material.

In Fig. XXIII, the section shows how the gasket is held in place at its ends by engaging the end walls of the recess 82; while Fig. XXIV, which is a View taken in the direction of the arrow, shows how the gasket is retained by the side walls of the recess and also how the pocket or port 34 is provided by merely cutting a slot in the gasket. Obviously, this type oi gasket, as soon as it yields slightly, has a relatively large bearing surface upon the ball and is not strained or damaged by the convexity of the ball contact, and is readily renewable.

Further, with this type of contact device or that shown in Figs. VIII to XIV, inclusive, which have cylindrical faces, it is possible to use nipples having cylindrical heads, as shown at 81 in XXVI and XXVII, by merely having the contact faces formed with the proper radius, as can be accurately done. Assuming the noz- Zle oi Figs. XXII, XXIII and XXIV to be properly placed upon the nipple of Fig. XXVI, it will be plain that lubricant may be forced through the axial duct in the nipple and that this can be accomplished throughout wide angular displacement cf the axes of the nipple and nozzle in a vertical plane. Moreover, if the head of the nipple is rotatable with respect to the axis of the nipple, as shown in Fig. XXVIII, then the nipple can be serviced in any possible position in which it may be placed.

It will also be plain that if the ball type fittings and cylindrical head fittings have proper dimensions, a nozzle such as shown in Figs. XXII,

XXIII and XXIV, for example, may be used upon either form indiferently.

Assuming the gun of Fig. I as provided with one of my improved discharge tube contacting ends, as at 25, and the gun as otherwise shown in the drawing and the reservoir 5 full of lubricant, it may be placed in condition for operation by tearing off the tab or strip 23 so as to open the vent 22 back of the follower 24. Then, if the rear end of the cartridge be grasped by the hand and thrust toward the nipple 26, tube I will be telescoped over the plunger 1; and, as soon as the plunger l passes over the ports 4, the lubricant entrapped between the end of the plunger and plug 6 may be expelled past the check valve I2, through duct 8 and nipple 26 to the part to be lubricated. As the thrust against the device is relieved, spring 9 may keep the plunger in contact with the nipple and tube l and the cartridge may recede toward the right. This relative movement or tube l with respect to tube 'i will cause a partial Vacuum to be created in bore 2; and, as soon as ports Il are uncovered,

lubricant will rush into ther bore 2 and fill the space from which lubricant was previously displaced, owing, to the effect of atmospheric pressure back ofy the follower 24.

The above action mayy be repeated until the contents of the cartridge is exhausted, and then the cartridge may be separated from the tube I anddiscarded. A fresh cartridgemay be applied by knocking in the disc ISI and inserting the tube I through the opening thus formed and passing the right-hand end of the tube through the lubricant and opening inthe follower (packed in thebottom of the new cartridge) until the tapered portion 3 engages the inturned collar I8. Then the taper 3 is forced into the collar so as to slightly expand the same and make a tight joint, until the end rests. against the bottom and the gun is then in condition to be used as above outlined.

It the gun be.` modified as indicated in Fig. II, itsl action. will be the same as above, though the cartridge will beheld in piace uponthe tube, by means of the bayonet lugs 36 engaging the bosses 31, instead of the friction fit of Fig.v I. To removean exhausted cartridge, it will be necessary, with this structure, to rotate the lugs with respect to the cartridge until the bosses 3'! are disengaged, and' then the cartridge can be. withn drawn, as above outlined. A new cartridge is rpplied in the same manner as above, save that the bosses 31 are entered betweenthe lugs 36,. and then the cartridge is rotated with respect tothe lugs 36- so that the inclined surfaces draw the collar I8 upon the cone 3 and produce a tight joint and hold the cartridge in this position.

With that modification indicated in Fig. igthe operation of the gun is the same as above until the cartridge is emptied. It can then be removed by first revolving it with respect to tube I until the thread 4I disengages the collar 39. A fresh cartridge is applied as in the case of the structure of Fig. I, save that when the threaded portion 4I strikes the collar 39 it is pressed into the same until its threads take hold on the conical collar. Then, the tube I and cartridges are rotated with respect to each other until the thread draws the cone'zV (Fig. I) into fluid-tight contact with collar Il8. Then, the ring 43 is torn off so as' to open the vent 42 which willl allow the atmospheric pressure, through openings in 38, to press upon the follower 24.

The operation of the gun when modiiied as indicated` in Fig. IV is the same as in` thel case of the gun of Fig, I, save that the spherical end 45I makes a better thrust member than the ilat bottom of Fig. I, and the vent is opened by tear ing off the ring shown in section at 48;

When the gun of Fig. V is placed against the nipple 26- and thrust toward the same, as above indicated, the plunger B2 will enter the bore 553 of tube 58 and expel lubricant therefrom, past the check valve T0, and through the nipple to the part to be lubricated. As the thrust is relieved, the cartridge and' tube 55 will recede; and withdrawall of plunger 62, under influence of spring 63, will, owing to check valve l, create a partial vacuum inI the bore 59'. And, as soon as 62 is completely withdrawn, so as to expose the bore 59, lubricant will fill the bore, owing to atmospheric pressure back of the follower 52,-this space being in communication with the atmosphere through slots 54, bore 56 and port (i5-B. This operation may be repeated until the cartridge is exhausted when it may be unscrewed from the stopper 64 and withdrawn and discarded. A new cartridge may be applied by removing the sealing member 85 (Fig. XXV )f, which may be held in place by soft solder and readily torn off as well as provided with an embossed, or'otherwise formed, trade-mark or device which will insure the proper contents and be destroyed or so mutilated by removal as to avoid sale of refilled cartridges. The vent 86-isthen preferably closed: by al finger so as to prevent egress of air from allowing the lubricant to ll the tube While the same is passed through the contents of the cartridge andthe opening in the follower 52 until the stopper 64 strikes the neck 50, whereupon it is screwed into the neck and the gun is ready for use as before.

If this: gun be modified as shown in Fig. VI, its l operation isthe same as above; but, as the tube 14" canY be made as small as desired, it may have mucha less displacement than in the construction ofv Fig. V, and; therefore, the cartridges may be more' nearly filled with lubricant.

No claim is here made to the outlet nozzle described herein: asy this is claimed in my co-pending. application,y Serial No'. 686,549 of August 24, 1933, now Patent No. 2,123,404'.

I do not in any way limit myself to any ofthe exact constructions or detailsy of operation here explainedI merely to point out embodiments of my invention, for it will be obvious that wide departure may be made inv the way of apparatus and? modes of operation without departing from the spirit and. scope of my invention whichy is as setforth in` the following claims.

I claim:

l. Lubricating means including a container having non-removable end closures, a follower positioned near one of said closures when. the containerfis filled with lubricant,y a high-pressure pump passing through the other end closure and said follower andiV terminating within said container, and having an inlet for admitting atmospheric air between said follower and thersaid' one of said closures.

2. Lubricating means including a container having an air-excluding endl closure and a follower in proximity thereto, another end closure having an opening therein, and a pump having a part passed; through said opening and constructed and` arranged to supply air betweenI said follower andi first-mentioned closure.

3. Lubricating means including a container having an air-excluding end closure and a follower in proximityI thereto, another end closure having anopening therein, and a pump having a part passed through said opening and constructed and arranged tosupply air between said follower and rst-mentioned closure, said pump also being adapted to withdraw lubricant from the end of said container provided with the closure having an opening therein.

4. A pump including means for engaging. and

pump having a portion passing air through said follower and last-named end closure.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a con tainer having end closures and a follower confined therebetween and adapted to serve as a marketable package for lubricant, combined with a readily attachable-detachable pumping unit having associated therewith a tubular member passed through one of said closures and said follower and terminating within said container and conducting air between the follower and the other end closure.

7. The combination with a container of the original package type having permanent end closures, one of which is perforated and another of which is imperforate, and a perforated follower confined therebetween, of a readily attachable pump structure adapted to communicate with the interior of the container at the perforated end thereof and having a cooperating element inserted into the container through said perforated end and passing through the perforation in said follower and conveying air from outside of the container to a point between the follower and the imperforate end of the container.

8. A pump assembly for use with prefilled containers of the type having a perforated, permanent, end closure; an imperforate, permanent, end closure; and a follower coniined between said closures; said assembly including a portion adapted to communicate with the interior of said container through the perforated closure; a pump element in operative relation to said portion; and a cooperating element adapted to be passed through said perforations and said follower and convey air between said follower and the imperforate end closure.

9. A pump assembly for use with prefilled containers of the type having a perforated, permanent, end closure; an imperforate, permanent, end closure; and a follower confined between said closures, said assembly including a portion adapted to communicate with the interior of said container through the perforated closure; a pump element in operative relation to said portion; and an element adapted to be passed through said perforation and said follower and terminate between said follower and the imperforate end closure and cooperate with the follower.

10. Lubricating means comprehending a container having a side wall portion, end closures in fixed relation thereto and a follower confined within the container, combined with a readily appliable pumping device operatively communieating with the interior of the container and provided with a member insertable through one end closure and thence through the follower to cooperate therewith and terminating between the follower and another end closure.

ll. A pump assembly for use with preiilled containers of the type having an open end, a permanently closed end and a piston in proximity to the latter, said assembly including a portion adapted to communicate with the interior of the container at the open end, a pump element in operative relation to said portion and an element adapted to be passed through the contents of the container and the piston and to cooperate with the latter.

12. A pump assembly for use with preiilled containers of the type having an open end, a permanently closed end and a piston in proximity to the latter, said assembly including a portion adapted to communicate with the interior of the container at the open end, a pump element in operative relation to said portion and an element adapted to be passed through the contents of the container and the piston, to cooperate with the latter and to convey air to a point between the piston and the closed end of the container.

J CHN L. CREVELING. 

